Firing means for well perforating guns



1942- A. .1. COLLINS I 2,305,139

FIRING MEANS FOR A WELL PERFORATING GUN Filed Feb. 9, 1940 3Sheets-Sheet l ARTHUR COLL/N5 D es. 15, 1942. J co ms 2,3U5,139

FIRING MEANS FOR A WELL PERFORATING GUN Filed Feb. 9, 1940 3Sheets-Sheet 2 6 1W7 x/ y y/ UH My E30 77 ARTHUR L/COLL/NS Dec. 15,19412. J COLLINS FIRING MEANS FOR A WELL PERFORATING GUN 3 Sheets-Sheet3 Filed Feb. 9, 1940 w 4 0 w R v u w R A Patented Dec. l5, i dfi rmmcMEAN S FOR WELL TERFURAWG GUNS Arthur J. Collins, Corpus Christi, Tex.

Application February 9, 1940, Serial No. 318,050

((31. Mid-0.5)

12 Claims.

ated means, normally held in its raised position so that said gun cannotbe accidentally fired.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved headwhich is actuated by the rotation of the suspension tubing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved head whereinthe firing mechanism is rigidly held so that the same is unable to firethe gun until the suspension means has been rotated a predeterminednumber of times.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved head whereinsaid gun may be accurately located within the casing and may be handledwith comparative safety above the ground and in the ground.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical View, partly in section and partly in elevation,of a firing head constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view, showing the lower portionof the head attached to a gun,

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure 1,

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line t-t ofFigure 1,

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFigure 2,

Figure 6 is a vertical View, partly in elevation and partly in section,of the upper portion of the head, showing it in its hammer-releasingposition,

Figure 7 is a vertical view, partly in elevation and partly in section,showing another form of the head constructed in accordance with theinvention,

Figure 8 is a view, similar to Figure '7, which shows the hammer in itsreleased position,

Figure 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 ofFigure 7,

Figure 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line Ill-Hiof Figure 7,

Figure 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line llll ofFigure '7,

Figure 12 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line l2-l2of Figure 7,

Figure 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of another form of theinvention,

Figure 14 is a view, similar to Figure 13, showing the hammer in itsreleased position, and

Figure 15 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line l5l5 ofFigure 13.

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a sectional head. The lowersection H has its lower end l2 internally screw-threaded to form a box,and above said box there is provided an axial cylindrical chamber it. Ahammer Ml is slidably mounted within said chamber. The hammer, near itsupper end, is provided with an external annular groove iii. The lowerend of the chamber i3 is closed by an upstanding stud it of a gun barrelill. The upper end of said chamber is terminated within the section .ll;thus the hammer is slidably confined between the closed upper end andthe closed lower end of the chamber l3. A coiled spring l8 is confinedbetween the upper end of the hammer It and the upper closed end of thechamber 13; said spring, when compressed, will act to urge said hammerdownwardly.

The hammer I t is constructed with an axial recess 19, and a pluralityof divergent vents 2|) extend to the bottom of the hammer andcommunicate with the chamber l3. Thus an air cushion cannot be formedwithin the chamber below the hammer, thereby preventing air or fluidfrom becoming trapped within the path of the hammer when it is moveddownwardly by the spring I8. Thesection I! is provided with an upperaxial bore 21 which has its upper end 22 internally screw-threaded andits lower end spaced above the chamber iii. A plurality of radial ports23 extend from the bore H to the outer surface of the head. A tubularmandrel 2d has its lower end 25 externally screw-threaded and screwedinto the upper internally screw threaded end 22 of the bore 2i.Surrounding and slidably engaging around the mandrel M, is the upperportion of the head It]. Said portion is divided into a sectionalsleeve, having an upper section it and a lower section 21. The lowerdrel 2a.

end of the section 21 is externally screw-threaded, and a collar 28 isscrew-:threadedly attached to said lower end of the section 21. Saidcollar projects below the lower end of the sleeve and is provided withan inwardly extending annular flange 3|]. Rotatably confined between thelower end of the section 21 and the upper surface of the flange 35, is aring 3| which surrounds the man- I-Iowever, said ring is free to rotatearound the mandrel and between the section 21 and the flange 30.

A plurality of rods 32 are mounted so as to slide vertically within thesection H on each side of the bore 2|, and to extend below said bore.The upper ends of said rods are securely fastened to the ring 3|. Thelower end of the section I is provided with diametrically oppositeopenings 33, extending from the chamber l3, and which have their outerends internally screwthreaded. Screw-threaded plugs 34 close the outerends of the openings 33, but do not contact the rods 32. Positionedbetween the rods 32 and the hammer Hi, are a pair of balls 35 which arenormally held in the annular groove l of the hammer I l by the rods 32.The rods 32 are of .such a thickness that said balls are held within thelower ends pass the balls 35, said balls are then free to move inwardlyand thus release the hammer. The lower ends of the rods 32 are each cuton its inner side to form a wedge 36, so that when said rods are moveddownwardly, the wedges 35 will engage the balls 35 and move theminwardly to engage within the groove l5 and lock the hammer. The upperend of the sleeve section 2'! is provided with an upwardly tapered bowl3?. Surrounding the mandrel 25, and engaging within the bowl til, is asplit ,nut 38 which has its outer surface tapered correspondingly to thebowl 3i, and its inner surface screw-threaded. To hold the nut againstrotation, a key 50, embedded in the bowl, engages in the split or gap ofsaid nut.

A portion 39 of the outer surface of the mandrel 24 is provided withscrew-threads, equal in number to the screw-threads of the nut 38, andwhich match with the screw-threads of said nut. The screw-threads are ofa saw-tooth or ratchet cross-section so as to permit the mandrel to bemoved upwardly through said nut, when the nut -is elevated in the bowl,sufficiently to permit the bowl to yield, whereby the threads may passeach other. When said nut is moved upwardly into the enlarged portion ofthe bowl 31, it will be free, and may spread so that the threads willnot be in constantengagement and will not act to screw said mandreldownwardly; but, as said threads engage, the nut will spread and snapover the threads of the mandrel. However, when said nut is down withinthe taper 31, and the taper is urging the nut inwardly, said threadswill be engaged; thus allowing the mandrel 25 to be screwed down throughthe sections 26 and 2'1.

Bowed friction springs 4| have their lower ends fastened on the lowerportion of the sleeve section 21, so as to engage and ride upon theinner surface of the casing C and to hold the sleeve against rotation.The upper ends of the springs engage within vertical grooves 42 at theupper end of the section 25 to permit the springs to elongate and yieldinwardly. A safety plug 43 is inserted in the lower end of the memberII, and has its inner end underlying the hammer I l, said pin being leftwithin the gun until such time that it is desired to be run into a well.At that time said pin is removed so as to allow the hammer to movedownwardly when the balls are removed from the grooves |5 of saidhammer.

In the drawings, there has been shown the gun body H, which is one meansof carrying forth the invention. The firing means will operate this gunor any other suitable gun. The gun shown in Figure 2 has a barrel M.Said barrel is preferably cylindrical and is provided with a pluralityof elongated transverse recesses or firing chambers 45 extendinginwardly toward the center of said body. It is pointed out that saidchambers are preferably cylindrical in shape and constitute a pluralityof firing chambers so that cartridges or explosive charges may beinserted therein.

The stud I5 is provided with a central recess 45. The upper portion ofsaid recess is enlarged and receives an elongated firing plunger ll.Surrounding the upper portion of the firing plunger is an annular collar58. Confined between said collar and the lower end of the enlargedportion, is a coiled spring 39. The lower end of the plunger ll extendsdownwardly into the reduced portion of said recess, and the upper end ofsaid plunger extends above the stud and is surrounded by a retainingplug 50, which is screw-threaded into the upper portion of the enlargedportion of said recess. The plunger is slidable within the retainingplug and within the recess. An axial channel 5| extends throughout thebarrel Mi, and the lower end of said barrel receives a bull-nose plug52. It will be noted that said plug closes the lower end of the channel5|. The channel 5| communicates or transacts with all of the chambers45; said chambers being preferably spaced an equal distance apart, andforming a plurality of firing chambers.

Mounted in the channel 5|, are a plurality of firing pins 53 which aredisposed to slide longitudinally in said channel, which provides aguideway therefor. The pins 53 extend from one chamber to the nextchamber, and have their ends terminated substantially at the bores ofsaid chambers. The upper pin is the initial firing pin, and has itslower end terminating at the upper chamber, and its upper end projectingslightly into the enlarged recess 56 and underlying the lower end of thefiring plunger 51. Any suitable cartridge or explosive 55 may be used.

In operation, the mandrel 23 is connected into the upper end 22 of thechamber 2|. The hammer I5 is inserted within the chamber I3, and ispushed upwardly against the tension of the spring l8 and a safety pin 43inserted so that said hammer cannot move downwardly. The balls 35 andthe rod 32 are inserted, and the balls will engage within the annulargroove I5. Thus the hammer is held in position by the safety pin whilethe balls are being inserted, and the device is then assembled. The pins53 are inserted in the channel 5|, and the cartridges 54 are insertedwithin the firing chambers 55. A jacket 55 is inserted over the barrelof the gun, and is screw-threadedly attached to the lower end of themember I. Said jacket acts to cover and enclose the cartridges withinthe firing chambers 35; thus making a watertight gun barrel. The deviceis then run into a well casing which is desired to be perforated.

A plurality of sections of pipe (not shown) are connected to the upperend of the mandrel 24, and by the use of the pipe or tubing, the gunbarrel a l may be stopped opposite the strata to be perforated. Byrunning on a tubing, the barrel may be stopped more accurately than ifthe same had been run on a wire line. In other words, the stretch of atubing can be determined, and is much less than the stretch of a wireline. While the device is being run intothe well, the bottom portion mayrotate, as it often does when running tubing in a well bore. As thelower end of the gun would rotate, the mandrel 2t would travel downthrough the nut 38 due to the screwthreaded engagement. If there was noway to reset the nut 38, the gun might fire before it reached itspredetermined destination.

In order to reset the gun, the mandrel Ed is pulled upwardly, the nut 38striking the lower end of the section 26, allowing the threaded portion39 of the mandrel it to slide through said of the rods it beingconnected to the ring it which will rotate within the flange 3B. Whenthe hammer I4 is released, the safety pin 43, having previously beenremoved before running the device into the well, will strike the exposedupper end 01 the plunger 41. The lower end of said plunger will strikethe upper pin 53, striking the cartridge 54, exploding said cartridge,and firing the projectile out through the jacket 55 and the casing C.When said flrst pin strikes the cartridge, the explosion of saidcartridge will act upon the next pin 53 and transmit that pressure tothe next cartridge. This will be repeated until all 01' the shells havebeen fired. The tool may nut and snapping it apart as the threads pushthe threads of the nut outwardly until the upper end of the section itstrikes the flange til. In running the device, the tubing is made up asit is lowered into the well. In other words, a section of tubing isattached to the structure and is lowered into the well until the upperend of that section of tubing is near the top of the floor of thederrick. At that time slips are placed around said tubing to hold thesame up while the traveling block is released, and is raised to the topof the derrick to pick up another section of pipe. Said section is thenconnected to the pipe already in the well. It is necessary to slightlyraise the pipe within the-well to release the slips, and at this timethe mandrel M will also move up and reset with relation to the nut 38.This is repeated until the tool has reached the strata which is desiredto be perforated.

The operator has, previously to the time of running the gun into thewell, predetermined by the coarseness or fineness of the threadedportion dill of the mandrel 2t, and the threads of the nut 38, thenumber of turns needed on the mandrel M to fire the gun. For example, hehas set said gun so that it will take six turns to fire it. By rotationof the mandrel 2d, the threads of the mandrel and the nut 38 will allowthe mandrel it to move downwardly through the sections it and 211. Inorder to prevent the nut it from riding up the taper, a portion of theweight held at the top of the well is slacked ofl so that the nut 3%,carried by the mandrel, will bear against the tapered portion 31!; and,by this slacked weight, said nut will be held tightly within the taperedportion.

It is pointed out that the rods 32 are held against vertical movement bythe ring 3i, which is confined between the dense 3t and the lower end ofthe section ill. The section ii will slide downwardly, moving the firinghammer i i and the balls 35 downwardly therewith, until such time as theballs 35 are free to move back away from the hammer it. At this timesaid hammer will be released. It is also pointed out that the frictionblades ti engage the casing and support the sections it and 21!, andwill act to hold said sections against any movement. It is furtherpointed out that when the mandrel M is rotated, the section i i,together with the rods 32 and the rest of the gun, except the sections26 and 21 and the nut it, will rotate due to the upper ends then bepulled out of the well, reloaded, inserted within the well, and firedagain. It is specifically pointed out that the gun barrel, herein shown.is merel a means for carrying forth the invention, and that variousother types of barrels could be used.

There is shown in Figures 7 and 8 another form carrying forth theprinciple of the hammer. Said hammer is very similar to the hammer shownin Figures 1 and 2. In this form, in place of the friction blades M,there is provided a plurality of dogs 5t within the section 21; saiddogs being pivotably mounted within the section 21 (Figure 9) and havingan outwardly extending perpendicular edge 51. A spring 58 urges thedogsoutwardly so that they will engage the casing (not shown) at alltimes, but will not bite into said casing unless it is attempted torotate the member 21 in a clockwise direction. At this time the bitingedges 51 will bite into the casing and securely hold the section 21, andobviously section 26, from rotation, thereby allowing the rest of thestructure to rotate identically with that shown in Figure 1.

The mandrel M is connected into the upper end of the section ll, andconfined within the section 27, is the split nut 38 which rides withinthe taper 3i. Said structure is provided with the rods 82, similar tothe rods shown in Figures 1 and 2, which hold the balls 35 intoengagement with the hammer it, thereby preventing said hammer frommoving downwardly. Provided in the lower end of the mandrel 2d, andscrewthreadedly attached thereto, is a flow bean 59. Said flow beanmaybe placed within said mandrel as desired, and is merely insertedwithin the mandrel when it is desired to flow the well through thestructure. Due to the ports 23, similar to the ports shown in Figures 1and 2, a flow bean would control the fluid passing into the flevice andup through the mandrel and the tub- It is pointed out that said well maybe flowed through this structure, or the structure shown in the rest ofthe drawings, and may be left in the well until such time as theoperator desires to remove the same;-thus allowing the well to flowthrough the device without removing the same after the well casing hasbeen perforated. In the forms shown in Figures 7 and 8, the hammer it issomewhat different from the hammer shown in Figures 1 and 2. It isprovided with an upstanding collar 60 at its upper end and a.cylindrical head til at its lower end. Said collar has a central recess62, having its outer surface her and the top of the chamber it. The headti is provided with a central screw-threaded opening it (Figure 11),which is [provided above the packing ring tit (Figure 7). An opening italso extends through the section M. It

it. Said pin may be held within said one by a collar key tit, or anyother suitable means.

In the event the balls at were left out, or became broken intransportation, the screw-threaded portion iii of the pin 66 and thescrew-threads of the pin iiii would engage due to the downward pressureof the spring til. In an attempt to remove the pin, the threads wouldhold said pin, and the same could not be freely moved out of saidopening. Thus, the operator would know that the pin was holding up saidhammer, that some part had been left'out of the gun, and that there wassome-diihculty within the firing mechanism. Thus, it can be seen thatsaid pin acts as a safety featureand 'will not allow said hammer to beaccidently iorced downward, which would result in the accidental firingof the gun. The pin M is usually left within the openings it and lituntil just before the gun is lowered into the well; thus, said gun-isprovided with a safety feature, and it may be transported without fearof the gun accidently discharging.

As shown in Figures '7' and 8, the connection between the firing headand the gun barrel is slightly different from that shown in Figures 1and 2. In Figures 1 and 2, the plunger is contained within the barrel;however, in the form shown in Figures '7 and 8, it is within the head,and the lower end of the section Ii is provided with an upstanding boxit. As will be noted in the drawings, the chamber it has its lower endopen and screw-threaded opposite the screw-threads of the pin. The lowerend of said chamber is closed by an external screw-threaded plug ii.Said plug is carried by the section ii and is provided with an axialbore it. The upper portion of said bore is enlarged and screwthreaded.Insertable within the enlarged screwthreaded portion 73, is ascrew-threaded plug it which carries a firing plunger i5. Confined inthe reduced portion of the bore 72 and the lower edge of the plug it, isa cartridge iii, so that when the hammer is released, as explainedhereinbefore and operating identically to that shown in Figure 1, itwill strike the firing plunger 15, which will in turn strike thecartridge it. Thus, the explosion of the cartridge is used to force thepins downwardly, as shown in Figure 2, or to operate this type of gunbarrel.

The lower end of the plug ii is reduced and forms a hexagonal head Tl,so that said plug may be easily removed. It is pointed out that the headshown in Figures '7 and 8 operates identically to the head shown inFigures 1 and 2. The gun barrel, shown in Figures 1 and 2, may beattached thereto, or any other suitable gun barrel may be operated byeither of said heads. In Figures 13 and 14, there is shown a means forfiring a gun which does not depend upon rotation, however it does embodythe hammer and locking structure, which will be herein explained.

The gun barrel it may be connected to the lower asoaiao end oi'thefiring head it. The firing hammer iii is very similar to the firinghammer it, shown in Figures 2, 7 and 8. Bald head it is provided withthe chamber tit, and has its upper end reduced. The upper end of thehead It is also reduced and externally screw-threaded to receive arunning pipe or support ill. The firing head it isprovided withdiametrically opposite openings M, extending from the chamber tit, andwhich have their outer ends internally screwthreaded. Screw-threadedplugs 83 close the outer ends of said openings.

The firing hammer it has an elongated upstanding collar M which isprovided with an axial bore 35 therethrough. The collar M is providedwith a plurality of openings ML; The upper end of the reduced portion ofthe bore til is reduced and forms a shoulder fi'l. Confined between theshoulder ti and the upper end of the collar M, is a coiled spring Bil,so that said spring will exert a downward pressure upon the hammer atall times. Extending above the upper end of the head i3, and dependingdown into the bore 86 of the collar M, is an elongate pin lit. Thecentral portion 90 of said pin is reduced so that the lower end of thepin 9i and the upper end of the pin 89 are larger than the centralportion iii). Said pin is held in the position shown in Figure 13 by ashear pin 92. Confined between the ends of the plugs 83 and the lowerend iii of the pin 89, are balls 93. As will be noted in the drawings,said pin holds the balls within the openings 86 of the collar til; thusrigidly holding the collar and head 9b in their upward or firingpositions.

The lower portion below the hammer is constructed identically to thatshown in the previous figures, so that when said gun is desired to befired, a tool 9d, commonly referred to as a godevil", is dropped in thetubing. Said go-devil" strikes the upper end of the pin 89, shearing theshear pin 92, and moving said pin downwardly. When the reduced portion90 moves into alinement with the balls ilii, they will snap inwardly andallow the spring 63 to push the hammer is downwardly, striking thefiring plunger lb, and firing the gun. If it is desirable to produceafter the head has been released, and the gun fired, it would only benecessary, before ruzming the gun into the well, to provide a section ofperforated pipe or screen above said head. Thus, the fluid from thestrata could flow up around said head and through said perforations, andup the tubing.

It is pointed out that the firing head, herein described, may beoperated in connection with various types of gun barrels, and wouldoperate substantially the same as that shown in the previous figures.

Various changes, alterations and modifications may be made in the size,shape and arrangement of the herein described elements, within the scopeof the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a well gun firing device, the combination of a gun barrel, asupport having means for connecting with said gun barrel and providedwith a chamber, a primary firing element movably disposed between thegun barrel and the chamber of said support, an actuating member movablein the chamber of said support, means for holding said member elevatedabove said firing element, means for running said device in a well bore,means set to operate from the top of the well for releasing said holdingmeans and firing said member when said running means is rotated, andmeans normally under tensioned restraint ior impelling said member intofiring engagement with said firing element.

2. The combination of a well gun barrel, of a firing device thereforincluding, means for. running said device into a well bore, a firingelement eoacting with the firing means of the gun barrel, and meansacting when the running means is rotated irom the surface oi the wellfor releasing said firing element which has been set before the deviceis run into the well.

3. The combination of a well gun barrel, oi a firing device thereforincluding, a firing element coacting with the firing means of the gunbarrel, means normally idle for actuating said firing element, and meansacting when the running means is rotated from the surface oi the wellfor releasing said firing element.

4. In a well gun firing device, the combina tion oi a gun barrel, asupport having means for connecting with said gun barrel and providedwith a chamber, a firing hammer disposed within said chamber and abovethe gun barrel and movable downwardly, means for suspending said devicein a well bore and means operable by rotation oi the suspending meansfrom the surface of the well for actuating said hammer.

5. in a well gun firing device, the combination oi a gun barrel, asupport having means for connecting with said gun barrel and providedwith a. chamber, a firing hammer normally locked in a cooked position,means for suspending said device in a well bore and means operable byrotation oi the suspending means from the surface oi the well foractuating said hammer.

6. in a well gun firing device, the combination oi a gun barrel, asupport having means for connecting with said gun barrel and providedwith a chamber, means for holding a portion of said support againstrotation, a firing hammer disposed and slidable within said chamber andabove the gun barrel, means for suspending said device in the well bore,and means operable by rotation oi the suspending means from the suriaceoi the well for actuating said hammer.

"i. In a well gun firing device, the combination oi a gun barrel, asupport having means for connecting with said gun barrel and providedwith a chamber, a firing hammer disposed within said chamber and abovethe gun barrel, means for locking said hammer in its cocked position,tubular means for running and suspending said device within a well bore,and means for unlocking said hammer and firing said gun upon therotation of the tubular suspending member.

8. In a well gun firing device, the combination of a gun barrel, asupport having means for connecting with said gun barrel and providedwith a chamber, means for holding a portion of said support againstrotation, at firing hammer disposed and slidable within said chamber andabove the gun barrel, tubular means for running and suspending saiddevice within a well bore, and means for unlocking said hammer andfiring said gun upon the rotation oi the tubular suspending member.

9. In a well gun firing device, the combination of a gun barrel, asupport having means for connecting with said gun barrel and providedwith a chamber, a firing hammer, normally locked in a cooked position,tubular means for running and suspending said device within a well bore,and means for unlocking said hammer and firing said gun upon therotation of the tubular suspending member.

10. The combination with a well gun barrel having firing means, of afiring device including a firing element for engaging and actuating thefiring means of the gun barrel, means for impelling said firing element,latch means engaging the firing element and holding it latched againstmovement by said impelling means, means for holding said latch meansagainst operation, and means operable from the surface for running andsuspending the gun and rotatable to release the latch holding means,whereby the latch is released and the firing element is freed.

11. In a well firing gun, the combination oi a gun barrel, a head havingmeans for connecting with and suspending said barrel and provided with achamber, a firing hammer movable in said chamber above the gun barrel,means for suspending said device in a well bore and means in the headcontrolled by rotation from the surface of the well of the suspendingmeans for operating said hammer.

12. .A firing device for a Well gun including, a head having means forsuspending a gun barrel and provided in its lower portion with achamber, a spring actuated hammer slidable in said chamber, latch meansfor fastening said hammer against movement, means for suspendinc saiddevice in a well bore, and means operable by rotation of the suspendingmeans at the surface of the well for releasing said latch means.

ARTHUR J. COLLINS.

